Grokking the System Design Interview vs. System Design Primer Comparison

System design is becoming important even for new developers. Many companies now include system design questions in interviews to test your ability to build scalable architectures, not just write code. Learning these fundamentals early can set you apart in interviews.

If you're a beginner looking to learn system design, two popular resources can help: Grokking the System Design Interview and the System Design Primer.

Grokking is an online course that teaches system design through guided lessons and real-world examples.

Whereas, the System Design Primer is a free, open-source GitHub repository that offers a comprehensive collection of system design topics and Q&A. Both aim to teach you the basics of designing large-scale systems, but they differ in format and style. Let’s compare them to see which fits your needs best.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Here's an overview of how Grokking and System Design Primer compare:

In-Depth Comparison

Let's break down these aspects:

Course Structure

• Grokking: Uses a structured curriculum from fundamentals to specific system design problems. The course guides you step-by-step through each lesson and case study, making it easy for beginners to follow.

• System Design Primer: Works as a comprehensive guide rather than a linear course. It’s a well-organized repository of topics and example questions that you explore on your own. You have the flexibility to study in any order, but you need to be self-directed.

Check out System Design Tutorial for Beginners.

Depth of Content

• Grokking: Covers essential System Design concepts for system design interviews in depth while keeping a focused scope. It zeroes in on common scenarios and fundamental techniques. You get a solid foundation on important topics without going into very niche subjects.

• System Design Primer: Provides broad coverage of system design. Almost every relevant concept is included, explained concisely (often with pros/cons and further reading links). You won’t miss any major topic, though some areas are only covered at a summary level, with pointers for deeper information if you need it.

Hands-on Practice

• Grokking: Includes interactive practice within the lessons. You're prompted to solve sub-problems or answer questions as you go, then you can compare with the solution . This guided practice trains you in how to approach designing a system step by step.

• System Design Primer: Offers self-driven exercises for practice. It lists common system design questions with detailed sample solutions that you can use to practice – try designing a system, then check the provided solution. (It also provides flashcards for reviewing key concepts.) Since the Primer isn't interactive, you need to take initiative to use these practice resources.

Usability & Learning Style

• Grokking: Very user-friendly and guided. The platform has a smooth interface with helpful visuals and a clear progression, making it easy for beginners to absorb the material.

• System Design Primer: Great for self-paced learners who like to explore. Using it feels like reading a comprehensive textbook – you scroll through a lot of information and decide what to focus on. This freedom lets you dive into any topic, but it can be a bit overwhelming at first due to the sheer volume of content.

Cost & Accessibility

• Grokking: A paid resource. You need to purchase access (either a subscription or one-time fee), which gives you full access to the course content. You'll also need an internet connection and account login to use it.

• System Design Primer: Free and open-source. It’s available on GitHub, with no login required (you can even download it for offline use). There's essentially no barrier to entry – ideal if you don’t want to spend money.

Best For

• Grokking: Perfect for beginners who want a guided learning experience. If you learn best with a structured path or have an upcoming interview and need to ramp up quickly, Grokking is a smart choice.

• System Design Primer: Ideal for independent learners who want to dig deep into system design at their own pace. If you like having a comprehensive reference to explore and you don't want to pay for a course, the Primer will suit you well.

Check out a detailed review of Grokking the System Design Interview course.

Which One Should You Choose?

Both of these resources are excellent, and you might even use them together for the best results.

Here are some final tips:

• Choose Grokking if you want a structured course with guided examples and need to learn system design quickly.

• Choose System Design Primer if you prefer self-paced learning and want a free, extensive resource.

• Consider using both: You could start with Grokking to learn the basics and work through a few case studies, then use the System Design Primer to reinforce concepts and practice additional questions. This way you get both structure and breadth in your learning.

No matter which you choose, you'll build valuable system design skills that will help in interviews.